Round Robin Challenge: On My Table

"High - tech tomatoes. Mysterious milk. Super squash. Are we supposed to eat this stuff, or is it going to eat us?"

-Anita Manning

For this Round Robin Challenge, my pal Steven asked us, "What's on your table." My answer to him is probably a pretty common one this week. It's a turkey. A 25 lb. naked Foster Farms turkey in a bag to be exact! Why is there a turkey all naked on my table? Well, you see, I am short, so short that sometimes, when I want to make sure that I am seasoning a dish properly, I work with it at the table, as opposed to the counter which is a little high for me. It's not easy being 4 ft. 11. LOL. I swear the older I get the smaller I get. I think it might be true, you do shrink as you get older. Next year I will be needing a step ladder to reach the table. Holy TOLEDO... I am the INCREDIBLE SHRINKING WOMAN! LOL.

Here are a couple more photos that followed!

Thanks for the challenge Steven, that was fun. :)

Linking List

Steven... (sometimes) photoblog
Posted!

Carly... Ellipsis
Posted!

Martha... Menagerie
Posted!

Karen... Outpost Mavarin
Posted!

Jama... Sweet Memories
Posted!

Liz... Visual Counterpoint
Posted!

Wammy... The Ellis Family Cincinnati
Posted!

Connie... Far Side Of Fifty Photos
Posted!

Sandra... Strong Chemistry
Posted!

boliyou... Endomental


Teena... It's all about me!
Posted!

Terri... Ways I See The World **Welcome New Member**
Posted!

Monica... Family Affair Photography
Posted!

Sherrie... Sherrie's Stuff
Posted!



Be sure to come by the official Round Robin Challenges blog on Sunday, to find out the topic of our next challenge! See you then!

-Carly
"The Naked Turkey On The Table"
Berkeley, California
November 26th, 2008
Afternoon

Shhhhhh... Don't Tell Mom & Dad (Feline & Furball Friday)

"I always say, shopping is cheaper then a psychiatrist."

-Tammy Faye Bakker Messner

Shhhhhh. Hi, it's me Hendrix. Don't tell mom and dad that we are cuddled up in their bed! Today is something called "Black Friday" so they will be out all day. Oh they don't go shopping, they like to sit and watch other people go crazy at the malls. Whatever that means! Mommy always takes her camera, because there is always something to see! This year, however, they might be back home sooner then usual. There might not be as many people to see as in other years. That makes mommy sad. She likes to see other folks happy, and having fun. Sigh. Mew. It will be ok, when they get home we will play the "chase game" and the "catch the mousie" game. I won the last time we played, but Dylan is really good at it too! I After we play, we eat dinner. We get crunchies, but mom and dad get turkey. If we are good boys we might get some turkey too. I had my first turkey tasting just yesterday, and I must say, I LIKED IT! So please... don't tell mom and dad that we cuddled up in their bed! MEOW! :)

Now that you have read my Feline & Furball Friday entry, be sure to visit the host, Steven. You can see my pal Pickle, and find the links to my other furry pals. Steven says, Friday is the day for pets!

Note: As of today, I have been living with my new mom & dad 1 month! Wow! Dylan came after me, his anniversary is on December 5th!

-Hendrix & Dylan
"Cuddled Up"
Berkeley, California
November 28th, 2008
Early Morning

Happy Thanksgiving

"Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace, the celebration of work and the simple life... a true folk - festival that speaks the poetry of the turn of the seasons, the beauty of seed time and harvest, the ripe product of the year, and the deep, deep connection of all these things with God."

-Ray Stannard Baker (David Grayson)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Always,

Alan, Carly, Hendrix & Dylan

On The Day Before Thanksgiving

"If the only prayer you ever said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice."

-Meister Eckhardt

Everything is all ready for tomorrow. The turkey is prepped, the pie is baked, and all that remains is the quiet reflection of the joys and sorrows of 2008. I am happy to be able to say that, given everything that has happened, Alan and I are still happy, and healthy and going on 19 years of marriage! We are thankful for what we have in each other. We work on our marriage, it doesn't just come easy, believe me. Sometimes I have no idea why he is still with me, given some of my mistakes, but he just laughs and gives me a hug and brushes all the mistakes away. I am thankful for Alan and his ability to forgive.

I wish everyone was as lucky as me. I worry about the world. The economy is so bad, and there are so many folks going without this year. It feels good to donate food to the shelter in Oakland, but it feels horrible to know it isn't enough. And we get told that things will get worse before they get better. Sigh. Christmas will be slight for most households this year, not only will gifts be hard to come by, but so will food and shelter. Every time I get fed up with this tiny cottage I live in, I stop and remind myself of how lucky I am to have it! It's not just a roof over my head... it's home. I am thankful for my home.

I have two new little babies this year. Hendrix is my little comedian, he is a laugh a minute. Adventurous, and brave, loving and feisty. Dylan is my love bug. He is elegant in his movements, and if given a choice, he would sit in my lap all day long. He greets me in the morning with hugs and kisses, and soft kitten whispers, and then his brother joins in. I have never seen two kitten who were more affectionate. They are my boys! :) I share them with Alan because it's the thing to do! LOL. Actually, Hendrix considers his daddy, his personal property, and I apparently belong to Dylan. The truth is, I think we all belong to each other. :) I am thankful for my baby family.

Along with all the personal things I am thankful about, I am also thankful to be able to say I was wrong. YEP... I WAS WRONG! I really wanted to see Hillary Clinton become our next president, and to be honest, I had very little if any faith in Barack Obama. I told you that before. But I also told you that just because we wouldn't be seeing her on the democratic ticket, it didn't mean I would lose my mind and vote for McCain because of it. I promised to try to find something to believe in when it came to Obama, and I did. Not just a little bit mind you, I completely believed in him on election day, and now more then ever!. He has acted more like a president since November 4th, then Bush has his entire time if office. I had almost forgot what it was like to have a competent individual in the White House. I am thankful for Barack Obama. I am thankful I can admit when I have been wrong!

I am thankful that our extended families are well and safe. I am thankful that my MIL is at home, resting after a recent heart attack. The doctor told her that the damage he thought was there, wasn't nearly as bad as he had originally thought. Thanks for all your kind thoughts and prayers. They reached her just fine. :) I am thankful for all of you who take a few moments out of your day to see what I am up to with life and photography. Friends on and off the net make my life a lot less lonely. I am thankful for you. If you are reading this, please know... I am thankful for you!

There is so much more I am thankful for. Little things. Rain, chocolate, spooky movies, stuffed animals, chilled pears, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a good sale at Old Navy, my therapist, music, Dr. B... . The list is endless. Mostly, I am thankful for life and whatever comes my way. Anyone can do the easy times, it's the hard times that build us. I don't automatically think about giving up anymore. I deal. I feel good about that. No hiding. No running away. No pretending something that hurts me doesn't exist. I feel it, give it it's due, and move on. Ok, sometimes I do better about moving on then other times, but I do eventually move on. I am thankful for inner peace. And oh yeah... autumn! :)

"Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day."

-Robert Casper

-Carly

"Thanksgiving"
Berkeley, California
Autumn, 2006
Late Afternoon

Let's Talk Turkey: Gobble, Gobble, Gobble

"When baking, follow directions. When cooking, go by your own taste."

-Laiko Bahrs

I am all set. Thanksgiving is good to go in our house. I gave Alan two different menu choices, and here is the one he chose...

MENU B

Lunch
~~~~~~~~
Warm Potato Leek Soup
Toasted Havarti & Pear sandwiches on Sourdough

Mid-Afternoon Munchies
~~~~~~~~
Assorted fruit, cheese, and pumpkin bread platter

Thanksgiving Dinner
~~~~~~~~
Turkey (roasted with herb butter) & Gravy

Cornbread stuffing w/ dried cranberries

Homemade Cranberry relish

Baked Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
(stuffed with apple/raisin/pecan compote)

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Green Bean Bake

Brown & Serve Rolls

Dessert
~~~~~~~~
Fruits of the Forest Pie

(Everything is prepared so it is Diabetic friendly) It's easier then you think!

I know, I know... it sounds like a lot of food for two people, but I have gotten very good at learning how to cook portions for two people. LOL. Although, I will be making turkey leftovers for quite a while, in that Alan bought us a 25lb turkey! LOL. OMG, there is enough turkey this year for each of us to eat 12.5 pounds! LOL. Oh well, I am looking forward to developing some new recipes, and it keeps well in the freezer, when stored properly. (INSERT BIG SMILE HERE). I like that I have become an expert at making a fancy meal, that is nearly guilt free! It just takes a little bit of planning. It's a lot of work, but I look forward to it so much.

I am spending the rest of the day today shopping for those last minute prep needs, such as the fresh herbs and garnishes. I am also heading down to my favorite cheese shop to purchase 1/4 lb. of about ten different cheeses for the snack platter. I will use whatever we don't eat in the leftovers I am already planning for. There is only one hitch to everything... lifting the prepared turkey into the oven for roasting. I will be on my own for most of Thanksgiving day, because Alan has to work. He has promised to help be prep the turkey Wednesday night, which is most of the work, but the lifting of a 25 pound bird, plus the wight of the baking pan, is something I am not looking forward to. Darn old torn rotator cuff injury! Sheesh, I hurt that thing way back on Thanksgiving day in 2006, and yet it is hurting today as if I just injured it. I am afraid at this point it is as arthritic as my knees are.

It will be ok. I will put a heating pad on my shoulder, and take my codeine like a good girl, and all will be fine. Heck, maybe I should just stuff the codeine in the bird then everything will really be fine. LOL. Nah, it will be ok, Alan will be home to take it out of the oven when it is done, so I only have to worry about putting it in to roast. In all seriousness, the hardest part is going to be not having my little sous chef, Elvis, to help me prepare the food. He used to sit on a kitchen stool and watch everything I did, when I was making a meal. I even had a little chef's hat for him. Our routine was a simple one. We cuddled up and watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, because nothing officially starts until we see Santa arrive in Herald Square, then we donned our hats, and cooked up a storm in the kitchen. Sigh. I am so sad. It's the first Thanksgiving without him, and I miss him terribly. But I do have two new assistant chefs, who have already shown a great fondness for food! LOL. Things will definitely be interesting in my house this Thanksgiving!

So, that's what I will be doing Thursday. How about you? Tell me, what traditions do you have for the holiday? Are you having a big fancy dinner, or are you playing things low key this year? Do you prepare your feast with any special health needs in mind, or do you "take a break from healthy" for one day? Tell me everything!

-Carly
"Here Turkey, Turkey, Turkey"
Costco
San Ramon, California
November 19th, 2008
Afternoon

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #13: Turkey Day

"A two pound turkey, and a fifty pound cranberry. That's Thanksgiving at Three Mile Island."

-Johnny Carson THIS CHALLENGE IS NOW CLOSED! THANKS FOR PLAYING!

We in the U.S. will be celebrating Thanksgiving this coming Thursday, so let's have a little fun with the holiday... shall we?

EMPS #13: Happy Turkey Day!
Even if you don't live in America, you can have fun with this photo assignment. Here's the general idea. Photograph anything TURKEY! TURKEY thawing in a pan, or roasting in the oven. You can use a stuffed TURKEY (as in stuffed animal) or a stuffed TURKEY ( as in dinner) as your subject. A paper TURKEY or plastic TURKEY used in a centerpiece would be interesting. TURKEY sandwiches, or TURKEY soup would do nicely, as would a TURKEY TV dinner. Live TURKEYS gathered in the wild, or at a petting zoo works, or if you can't seem to find a fowl TURKEY, but you know a real live human TURKEY, feel free to take their picture and post it. But don't forget to get their permission, if you don't they might think you are the TURKEY! I will even accept a photo of TURKISH coffee! If it refers to TURKEY it's perfect for the assignment! One thing... PLEASE remember, this is a family friendly photo assignment. No harming animals folks. Let's show our appreciation for the beautiful bird the TURKEY!

Extra Credit: If you do serve TURKEY for Thanksgiving, show us the WISHBONE!

You have until next Sunday, December 1st, at 9:00 PM Eastern time, to get the photo and post it to your blog, and then comeback here with the direct link. I cannot accept hyperlinks. It must be a direct link to the entry specific to this challenge. And don't forget to link back here so others can join in the fun!

Linking List for EMPS #12: Hot Beverages! 11/17/08

NOW CLOSED!

Jama says, "Tea for me, coffee for the hubby." :) Just like in my house!

Karen shows us some unusual hot chocolate, in some unusual mugs!

Liz shares soup and a poem!

Wammy likes to drink a big mug of peppermint tea, but sometimes "just to switch it up," enjoys some peppermint coffee as well!

Connie has a favorite hot cocoa recipe, which she shares with all of us!

Martha also enjoys hot cocoa, especially in a pretty mug!

I think we hot chocolate drinkers have the coffee drinkers beat this time around! :) VERY well done everyone! I will be looking forward to your turkey photos this coming week!

Have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING! See you in one week with an all new photo assignment!

-Carly

We Share Butterflies

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie."

-Tenneva Jordon

This year has certainly had it's moments. At times it has seemed jammed packed with bad news, if not for America in general, then for us, on occasions. I knew 2008 was going to be a bumpy ride, when the pipe in the wall behind the toilet decided to become hopelessly clogged on January 1st! LOL Whew... what a way to start a new year! LOL. But then February brought the untimely death of Alan's wonderful brother, and March began with the death of our friend, and landlord P. Elvis was diagnosed with Cancer in April, and that hit us just as hard, if not harder, then all the previous bad news. Alan and I had a lot to deal with over the summer, but we came through just fine, on the prayers of friends and family. October came along, and it was mixed with sorrow and joy, as we lost our Elvis, but gained Hendrix and Dylan. Our new fur babies, that make us smile every single day.

Life is a roller coaster, I keep forgetting that. With the sweet comes the bitter. Yesterday, I got a call from the pastor of my parents-in-law's church. It seems my MIL suffered a heart attack a couple days ago! She is in the hospital right now. The doctor performed a, Cardiac Catheterization, and found that some minimal damage was done, but he isn't doing anything for it. Apparently whatever damage that happened will either fix itself, or doesn't need any additional repair. Either way, I am thankful she is resting comfortably. My MIL means a lot to me. She has always treated me like a daughter, rather then some strange creature that lured her son into the depths of HELL! LOL. Over the 19 years we have been related, we haven't had one single argument. Have we disagreed? You bet! Was it ever so bad that we couldn't agree to disagree... NEVER!

We have shared many things over the years. We sent books back and forth, and compared and shared recipes. Which, let me tell you is completely intimidating, because she is a chef and nutritionist! Yikes! And yet, I managed to impress her with a couple recipes of my own. At least she said she was impressed. LOL. We sent photos back and forth, and she was so enamoured with Elvis, that she actually began her very own, Grandma's Baby Book, to share with all her friends the photos of "her cat" Elvis. She is a lovely, strong, impressive woman, and I felt cheated when she and Dad moved away from the Bay Area just a year after Alan and I wed. I worry about them both, so far away, but fortunately they have a lot of folks around to take care of them and look out for their needs. I just wish I lived closer.

It sounds like she will be coming home from the hospital early next week, and I know someone will have them over for the holiday, but I wish Alan could spend Thanksgiving with them. You never know what can happen, and in that he has always had a happy and healthy relationship with them, it just seems like he should be there. We took a hard hit, financially, after Elvis's illness. We wouldn't change a thing, we have no regrets about giving him chemo, but the cost of everything has made traveling way to expensive to just pick up the phone and book a flight. Hopefully, the economy will get better in time. We'll see. For now, while going back east is out of the question, we are close in our hearts. Please keep my MIL in your thoughts and wishes. I just know if you could meet her, you would love her as much as I do. One of the things we share most often, was our mutual love of butterflies. Every time I see a lovely butterfly I think of her, so the picture above is just for her. :)

-Carly
"Beautiful Butterfly"
Conservatory of Flowers
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
Spring, 2008
Afternoon

Martha's A-Z Photo Challenge: "Q" Is For Quince Blossoms

"Faith sees a beautiful blossom in a bulb, a lovely garden in a seed, and a giant oak in an acorn."

-William Arthur Ward

I love spring, all the beautiful blossoms, and one of my very favorite is the Quince. :) The Conservatory of Flowers usually has a nice display of colorful blossoms in place toward the end of winter, which makes those drab, cold, gray days of winter at lot easier to take. I have never tried eating a quince, but I understand they are really delicious. Maybe that will be something new to try for 2009. We'll see. Anyway, my pick for "Q" is Quince Blossoms. :)



Have you played the A-Z Challenge yet? Drop by Martha's blog, Menagerie, for more information.


-OndineMonet
"Quince Blossoms"
Conservatory of Flowers
San Francisco, California
Spring, 2006
Afternoon

Steven's Feline & Furball Friday: Dylan's Story

"With their qualities of cleanliness, discretion, affection, patience, dignity, and courage, how many of us, I ask you, would be capable of becoming cats?"

-Fernand Mery - Her Majesty The Cat

Here, as promised, is the story of how cat Dylan came to live with us. I already told you that when we adopted Hendrix, we had tentative plans to also adopt another cat that was in the care of a sweet lady named Donna who had been Hendrix's foster mother. It was a beautiful cat, and it played really well with Hendrix, but somehow the adoption couldn't take place. Sigh. It is a very long, ugly story. One that left me devastated. I am not exaggerating about that. I actually cried for a most of the weekend. It left me wondering if I had any business being a mommy to a cat. I wondered about whether I had hurt Elvis? I thought he had been happy, but what if I had actually subjected him to a life of misery, and he just couldn't tell me? After losing him the way I did, I had to then consider if I had made his life a living hell. It was a question about declawing.

I intend to have my cats eventually declawed. Now, there are a lot of opinions about this, and a lot of passion on both sides of the issue, but based on the experience I have had with declawing, which was a positive one, it seems like the best thing for our kitties. When I had Elvis declawed, it was because he was living with my mother who was elderly, and rather frail. Elvis didn't have a mean or destructive bone in his body, but accidents do happen, so I felt it was best for her at the time. I took him to Dr. B. the procedure was done, we followed all of the doctor's recommendations and Elvis was as good as new in a few days. No sign of pain or discomfort... ever! In fact, he could still grab things and hang on with nearly the same fierceness he had displayed when he played with his catnip toys, prior to being declawed. He ran, he played, he smiled, he saved animals in the backyard, he jumped, he did everything he did before he was declawed. That was my experience. It didn't hurt him. I am positive of that.

Ok, fast forward to the present, and what happened with the cat that was not to be. Donna fosters kitties for a Bay Area shelter, and when they come into the care of the system, they are assigned a tracking number. Once you find a kitty you want, you go to the shelter and get approved for the official adoption. Alan and I went to the shelter, and filled out the paperwork, and of course we told the truth about our intention to have the cat declawed. That is when it all fell horribly apart. The shelter grilled us for almost an hour about the declawing. They wanted to know who our veterinarian was, and told us more then one horror story about how my cat would come home from the declawing a different cat. It would hate us for the rest of our lives, it would turn to biting, rather then scratching, and the cat would be in devastating pain forever. They stopped just short of telling us that the cat would plan our murders! It was so bad, that when I asked to hold a little orange cat that was waiting for adoption, the shelter volunteer said, "NO!" It would be better that it was put to sleep, rather then adopted by me. We called Donna, told her what happened, and told her we were sorry about not being able to take the kitten, but we couldn't lie.

I was in so much pain I could barely breathe. I just quietly walked out of the shelter. So much went through my head. Had we just caused Dr. B a lot of hassle. Where they going to put him on some mean veterinarian list? But what to do? The truth was already out there. Neither Alan or myself was willing to lie to get what we want. So, there we were. We may have just caused a ton of problems for Dr. B and no second cat. Sigh. It was a terrible feeling, but I resigned myself to simply owning Hendrix, after all, he is a beautiful cat, full of fun, and life, and he loved me so much, so, I began to move on. It would be ok. Don't get me wrong, it would have been just fine owning one cat, but I did know that Elvis was terribly lonely after we had to get rid of his brother Jack. That is why he tried to adopt everything that came into the yard. LOL. He loved everyone so much, and it was that memory of him that made me not want Hendrix to be lonely, but what were we to do? The day after election day, a call came. It was Donna, who had found an orange kitten, whose mommy and sibling had been hit by a car and killed. It hadn't been placed into the shelter system yet. "Would we be interested?" You bet!

Dylan was all alone in the world. He had just saw his very own mommy and brother or sister struck by a car and killed. He needed to have a new mommy, and I was so happy to be that for him. It was a nice fit, because I was a mommy, who just lost her little boy to cancer. We both had holes in our hearts that we could fill for each other. :) The first time I picked him up, he was shaking, but within a couple moments he stopped, and laid his head on my shoulder. He liked me, and felt safe. We became family before we left Dr. B's that day, and he has been my constant companion ever since. He adores his brother, and he lavishes love on his daddy when he comes through the door, and we are a family. :) It was a long road to each other, and there were some bumps, but it doesn't matter, what does matter is we are together. Forever.

Have you played Steven's Feline & Furball Friday? If not, you should. Write up your own pet tale, and then leave the link for Steven. Here is where you find all the information. :)

-Carly
"Dylan's Story"
November 5th, 2008

Caption Me Winner!

And the winning caption is...

"Who said mischief didn't leave you with a hangover!"

-Indigo

Alan, as you may know, is the official judge when it comes to contests and MadLibs, and he didn't have an easy time! We really enjoyed all your entries very much. Thanks so much for playing along! I will be having more Caption Me contests coming up, so stay tuned, or better yet, try to play along! :)

Indigo, hon, I have a your prize waiting for you, but you have to send me an email so I have an address to send it back to. :) You can reach me at ...

Ondinemonet@aol.com

:)

-Carly
"Who Said Mischief Doesn't Leave You With A Hangover"
Berkeley, California
November, 2008
Evening

Pacific Grove Monarchs

"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."

-Nathaniel Hawthorne

Yesterday, Alan and I made our annual trip, down the coast to Pacific Grove, also known as "Butterfly Town USA." It's called that because each year thousands of Monarch butterflies choose this small coastal town to do their overwintering in. Actually, the monarchs can be found in giant clusters all along the pacific coast, but this is one of the largest colonies. It is estimated, this year, that there are about 15,000 clustered in this grove alone. It is nothing short of majestic!

I have been going to see the butterflies in Pacific Grove for years, but this year is perhaps one of the best in terms of numbers of Monarchs. It's most peaceful way to spend a November day as I can think of, and that's why I go there, to find some peace and quiet beauty. I wish autumn never had to end, I look forward to it all year long, and it seems like it never lasts quite long enough. Sigh. If you enjoy photography, and you live in California, you must go see the butterflies of Pacific Grove!

"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."

-Maya Angelou

"Once I read a story about a butterfly in the subway, and today, I saw one. It got on at 42nd and off at 59th, where I assume it was going to Bloomingdales to buy a hat that will turn out to be a mistake - as almost all hats are."

-Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) You've Got Mail

-Carly
"Butterfly Town USA"
Pacific Grove, California
November 19th, 2008
Afternoon

In The Hands Of Dr. B.

"Cats are dangerous companions for writers because cat watching is a near perfect method of writing avoidance."

-Dan Greenburg

Hendrix weighs 2.2 lbs! So does Dylan. We are off to a good start!

Everything is coming up cats! LOL. Ok, let me explain. The new kitties, Dylan and Hendrix, had to go for a visit with Dr. B. yesterday. It was time for a weigh-in, and a check in the ears, and for Dylan, a look at a yucky mouse which had occurred under one of his eyes. That one had me worried. Had he been fighting with his brother Hendrix? Did Hendrix hate his brother? Were we going to have to... gulp... separate the brothers by getting rid of one of them for their own good? There were some questions to be asked, but the last one worried me the most. I am hopelessly in love with my new two sons, but if I had to give one up for their own good, I would do it, as long as they could live a happy life. I have to admit, however, it would have hurt like hell.

Getting a start on leash training, our first session went very, very well! :)



As it turns out, I was being an overly cautious mommy. Their play is just fine, and the mouse under the eye wasn't the result of hostility, it was something that happens when kittens play. I think I have been a little hypersensitive lately, as I struggle to let go of Elvis, who is still in my thoughts each day when I wake up. It's hard not to miss him, considering that each morning for the last 10 years he woke me with paw pads and kisses. Sometimes I can almost feel him, asleep at my feet, and I just want to not open my eyes, because then I have to face another day without him. I still love him so, so, so much. But within a couple seconds I hear some bells in the other room, and I know that Dylan and Hendrix are playing, and if I call their name, they come running, jump up on the bed, and kisses happen! It feels good to have them greet me with love at the beginning of the day, it's almost as if Elvis somehow whispered in their ears, "Mommy really needs you, so give her kisses when she wakes up." Well, it's a nice thought anyway! :)

Hendrix stalks the invisible mouse!


Dr. B is the best veterinarian in the world, or at least the San Francisco East Bay! I know that in his hands, and those of nurses Mary and Donna, my kitties have the best care available. We knew that when he was caring for Elvis during his cancer treatments. There was so little that could realistically be done for Elvis, in fact, a lot depended on hope. Dr. B. gave us that, and from that hope came the miracle of having the world's best cat, longer then we originally thought possible. Alan and I have joked many times that sometimes we wish be could give up our personal doctor, and just go to Dr. B. for our medical needs. LOL. It's just that in his hands are our children, our boys, and he takes very good care of all of us, in one way or another. :) Thank you Dr. B., once again, for your understanding and generosity. :)



The next two photos tell you why the bed rarely gets made these days! :)



Look, Dylan smiles when he sleeps! :)



-Carly
"In The Hands Of Dr. B"
Castro Valley, California
November 18th, 2008
Late Afternoon

Note: Friday I will share with you what Dylan's story was before we became a family! Tune in then for my Feline & Furball Friday entry!

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #12: Hot Beverages

"Love is like swallowing hot chocolate before it's cooled off. It takes you surprise at first, but keeps you warm for a long time."

-Unknown

THIS PHOTO SHOOT ASSIGNMENT IS NOW CLOSED!

Hi folks, we have several new players this week, so be sure to drop by and say hello!

EMPS #12: HOT BEVERAGES.
Brrrrrrr! A November chill is in the air, and what could be nicer on a chilly November morning then a tasty HOT BEVERAGE? Ok folks, this is an easy one, so pour a big cup of your favorite HOT BEVERAGE and photograph it! My favorite HOT BEVERAGE is Starbuck's Hot Chocolate w/ raspberry syrup, but I also love hot Caramel Apple Cider. Some folks would rather have a big mug of soup, then coffee or tea, but that's ok, because all three would do just fine for this assignment! So many wonderful HOT BEVERAGES to choose from, so little time! This week, it's all about HOT BEVERAGES!

**PLEASE READ**

**You have until next Sunday evening, at 9:00 PM Eastern, time to find your HOT BEVERAGE, photograph it, post it to your blog or website, and comeback here with the direct link back to it. Your general blog address will not work. It must be a link to the entry specific to this challenge! NO HYPERLINKS! It is your responsibility to leave the link correctly. The link you leave me is the one I will post! Please folks, you MUST remember to submit your link correctly! Also, please remember to link back here so other folks can find the challenge and play along! :)

Linking List for EMPS #11: Windows. 11/10/08

NOW CLOSED!

1. Vicki {Welcome New Player}

2. Lisa

3. Karen

4. Jama

5. Wammy

6. Em Dy {Welcome New Member}

7. Connie

8. Sherrie {Welcome New Player}

9. Laurel {Welcome New Player}

10. Martha


Nice photography everyone! See you next Monday with a new assignment! :)

-Carly

In The Photo Trek Spotlight

"Photograph: A picture painted by the sun, without instruction in art."

-Ambrose Bierce

You meet such extraordinary folks through blogging. A couple months ago, a really fabulous photographer came by to play along with the Round Robin Challenges, and through that meeting I asked him to join in with the EMPS. I had no idea how much I would be learning from him. His name is Greg Kiser, and at that time he had the AOL Journal, Photo Trek. As we all know, AOL suddenly pulled the plug on the entire community, and when it did so, it destroyed a lot of hard work that folks had put into their journals and links through Google. Greg was one of the people hit the hardest by the loss of AOL Journals. He had spent a lot of time and creativity to create a special place to share his unique and beautiful photography. I know what felt like to put a lot of time and energy into a blog to make it a special place that represents my creativity. Greg not only did that with Photo Trek, but he went a step further by showcasing the photographic creativity of others as well.

Once a month he wrote a special article spotlighting a different photographer, who he felt advanced the art of photography. I am so honored to be one of the people he has chosen to spotlight. Yesterday, he wrote an article about me, and my love of photography, at his new website on the Internet, 446 Photography. Greg is a predominently a landscape photographer, who does some really wonderful things with water and movement in particular. He had a wonderful journal on AOL, but since leaving there late last month, he has created something even better with the new site. I will be following him in his new adventure, and continuing to learn wonderful tips about photography from him. He not only shares his personal gift for photography, but encourages others in their pursuit of the craft as well. He is a great guy, and I am honored to be featured this month.

Thanks so much Greg, for the kindness you have shown me. It means a lot. :)

Always, Carly :)

446 Photography

Photographer Spotlight: Carly Gordon

"Golden Gate"
January, 2005

Round Robin Challenge: Two Halves Don't Make A Whole

"What is life? An illusion, a shadow, a story. And the greatest good is little enough; for all life is a dream, and dreams themselves are only dreams."

-Pedro Calderon de la Baraca

WOW Nancy, this challenge really put me through my paces! LOL. "Two Halves Don't Make A Whole" was suggested by Nancy, who authors the blog, "Nancy Luvs Pix," and boy oh boy was it challenging to me! It had me completely stumped, so much so, that I very nearly didn't participate, but in the end, I decided to step up and meet the challenge. After all, that is what a challenge is supposed to do, challenge us! To wussy out wouldn't be a very good example to set for the Robins, now would it? So, without further delay, I present to you my examples of photographs, or rather two halves of photographs put together, which just don't quite seem right.

I started with the picture at the top. I could have put the two halves of the Orange Nemesia in a more wacky fashion, but I thought it would be kind of nice to show the two different parts of the same photo, just taken with different settings on my digital camera. The same, but not really.

Look! Is that one wacky Scarecrow or what?

Hmmm... Is there something wrong with that tomato? Is it organic? Inquiring minds want to know!

Actually, it was an organic tomato, and it was delicious! Is there anything better then home grown vegetables? (Insert evil laugh here: BWAHAHAHAHA)

This challenge was fun! And hey, we are always looking for new ideas, so, if you have a good idea for an upcoming challenge, please send it to either Karen, Steven or myself, and we will add it to the RRC pool. You can find our email addresses on the sidebar of the official RRC blog. Now, to see what Nancy, and all the other participating Robins came up with, just follow the links below. You'll be glad you did.

:)


Linking List

1. Nancy... Nancy Luvs Pix
Posted!

2. Jama Hameed... Sweet Memories


3. Karen... Outpost Mavarin
Posted!

4. Sherrie... Sherrie's Stuff
**Welcome New Member** - Posted

5. Gina... Gina's Space
Posted!

6. Martha... Menagerie
Posted!

7. Connie... Far Side Of Fifty Photos
Posted!

8. Steven... (sometimes)photoblog
Posted!

9. Carly... Ellipsis
Posted!

10. Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
Posted!

11. Liz... Visual Counterpoint
**Welcome New Member** - Posted!


If you enjoy the Round Robin Challenges, you might have fun with the Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot as well. Check back here at my blog on Monday, for a new EMPS assignment!

-OndineMonet
"Orange Nemesia"
Berkeley, California
Summer 2008

Rock The Vote!

"I believe entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot."

-Steve Martin

I bet when you saw the title of this entry you thought it would be yet another long, boring rant about politics. Well, NOPE. See, this girl, thankfully, does not live by politics alone. I love entertainment. Not that politics can't be entertaining. Just try to sit through a Sarah Palin press conference, without breaking out into laughter! How many exclusive interviews did she do last week? 12 was it? And to the wicked, biased, liberal media! Go figure. Oh well, that's her/their problem. As for me, well, I am doing some stress busting, even as I type this, by listening to the soundtrack from Mama Mia!

La La La La...

You are the dancing queen, young and sweet only 17
Dancing queen, feel the beat from the tambourine
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, digging the dancing queen.

-Dancing Queen by Abba

I think Mama Mia was my favorite movie this past summer. Look, it wasn't Meryl Streep's best movie, and it was a little funky with some timing, but it was fun, and that was important when I went to see it. I just wanted something to ease my terribly broken heart. Elvis's diagnosis was tremendously hard on both of us, so a momentary break was just what the doctor ordered. :) I sang along with the movie, and danced a little bit, and clapped along with the rest of the audience. It was nice. That is what entertainment is supposed to do, give you a temporary break from the harshness of reality. Right?

So, this morning as Regis & Kelly were discussing the People's Choice Awards, I wondered to myself how might an average person such as myself might be able to vote for my favorites? I had never voted before, but with the click of my mouse, I found the website, and for the first time, actually voted for my favorites to win a PCA! It was fun! In a few minutes, hopefully by the time you read this, you might see a little widget I picked up at the People's Choice Awards website, installed on my (work in progress) sidebar! :)

So tell me, have you ever voted for a movie, or song, or actor/actress to win a PC award? If so, have you voted this year? Who are you rooting for among this year's contenders? Do you have a favorite movie? Song? TV Show? I would love to know who you vote for. Go vote, then come back here and share!

Tell me everything. :)

People's Choice Awards

-Carly

Martha's A-Z Photo Challenge: N - O - P

"I take photographs with love, so I try to make them art objects. But I make them for myself first and foremost - that is important."

-Jacques Henri Lartique

Oh my goodness, where has the time flown? It seems I looked away for just a moment, and a month has gone by. The last letter I played for Martha's A-Z Photo Challenge was the letter M, and now she is up to the letter p! YIKES! So, in an effort to get caught up, and keep my promise to support her in her photo challenge, here are my entries for the letters, N, O, and P! Thanks for being so patient with me darling Martha. I am back on track now, and I should be on time from now on! And thanks again for helping me the other day, get all up to speed with things!

The large photo you see above is the letter "N." N - is for NEW YORK TIMES! I took that picture on Tuesday, November 4th. Election Day. After Alan voted, he and I kicked back at our favorite Starbuck's. I am hopelessly addicted to the news, politics and Starbuck's to the point I could use a support group for all three! LOL. My favorite warm morning beverages are the Caramel Apple Cider and the Hot Chocolate with Raspberry syrup. OMG! YUM! I don't indulge often, but on Election Day, with my nerves in tatters, it seemed like the thing to do. :) After I drank the warm, comforting beverage my blood glucose number was 89! :) Now that is the way to chase the bad blood away!


For the letter "O" I chose yet another photo of the new ORANGE tabby kitten in the house, Dylan. He is very patient, and extremely photogenic. It seemed like a purrfect fit! LOL.


And finally we come to the letter "P." Considering the time of year, I just had to show you a PUMPKIN don't you think? LOL. I love photographing pumpkins, I swear each one has a soul. Gourds are good people! Tee Hee.

:)

Martha is a sweetie, and her photo challenge is great fun. Have you tried it yet? If
not, you really should. Just drop by her place for all the details!

-Carly
"N Is For New York Times"
Starbuck's
Berkeley, California
November 4th, 2008
Morning

Caption Me! (A Contest) 11/12/08

"A new kitten will turn your house upside down, and at the same time make everything feel right."

-Unknown

I am working on the sidebar this week, and doing a lot of cleaning for Thanksgiving, which is creeping up faster this year then it did last year, so no deep political ranting today, or gourmet recipes, or any of my usual subjects for that matter, but what I do have is an impossibly cute photo of new kitten Dylan, just waiting for a clever caption. What do you think? Care to make a caption for the photo? Oh just go for it! The author of the winning caption will receive a mighty hefty pimping of their blog, and an original photo by me via email. You have until one week from today, November 19th, to submit a caption, along with your first name and the link to your blog. The winner will be announced on Friday, November 21st! Good Luck!

Note: All those who enter, will be listed on a Linking List, just for playing along. :)

-Carly
"The Wining Caption Goes Here"
Berkeley, California
November, 2008
Late Evening

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #11: Windows

"Our senses are indeed our doors and windows on this world, in a very real sense the key to unlocking of meaning and the wellspring of creativity."

-Jean Houston NOW CLOSED!

EMPS #11: WINDOWS.
Windows. We look out of windows hoping to see something interesting. We look into windows hoping to see something interesting, although we have to be careful how interesting that something might be! LOL. We decorate windows inside and out with lights, and drapes, and shutters, and mannequins and flower boxes and political signs. We call the eyes "the windows of our soul." Some of us use the Windows operating system on our computers. Windows almost always need washing. Sometimes we get food from a drive-thru window. We roll down the windows in our cars to let the wind blow through our hair. Sometimes, it is a good thing to have a, "window of opportunity" to act on. We all have windows in our lives, so, for this week's photo shoot assignment, let's photograph them. :)

Extra Credit: Show me your world through your car window!

As always, you have until next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM Eastern time to submit your EMPS entry. All you have to do is post it to your blog or journal, and comeback here with the direct link to your EMPS entry. Please do not leave a general link to your blog, the link you leave must be specific to your entry.

Linking List for EMPS #10: Feet. 11/03/08

NOW CLOSED!

Judi shows us some beautiful feet, in some beautiful brown shoes. LOVELY!

Jama photographed the feet of her favorite niece, in her favorite shoes. :)

Karen shares the paws of her dog, the feet of her barbies and her feet next to her favorite shoes. A nice group of pictures to fit the theme! :)

Laura shows off some FABULOUS purple pumps, and her feet in them! GORGEOUS!

Connie, and her pal Chance, show us paws that don't need shoes, and feet that do, in boots! Brrrr... it's getting cold out there! :)

Martha photographed her feet, and the feet of others, in black & white! Very Arsty!

I really enjoyed seeing all those feet & paws! Good job everyone! :)

Ok, Go Be Photographers. Go Get The Photo. I will see you in one week, with a new assignment, and the links to all your WINDOWS!

-Carly

Getting My Act Together, While Chasing Leaves

"The secret of all victory lies in the organization of the non-obvious."

-Marcus Aurelius

I have been a bad little blogger lately. October, and the first part of November, have completely slipped away from me. But I am back now, and playing catch-up. Thanks for being patient with me, as I meandered my way through the loss of a pet, vacation, a nail biting election, a second AOL Exodus and the acquisition of two new kittens. It has all been something of a whirlwind! But now it is time to catch my breath, and get back to some serious blog jogging. My blogging plans for the coming weeks include some very overdue blog jogging, the posting of new photography, the major pimping of my favorite memes and the revamping of my sidebar.

I am thinking about completely changing my sidebar, so it reflects some of my newest photography and interests. I know my blog roll could use some work, so if you are a regular reader of mine, and you would like to be listed on my blog roll, leave me a comment with your name and blog address. If you are one of those who were a part of the AOL Exodus of 2008, I would appreciate it if you left me your new information, even if you think I already have it. It would be a big help in getting things organized. My goal is to have my sidebar done by the end of the year. Yikes! Can you believe it, we only have about 7 weeks left in 2008! Can you believe it? Ten, nine, eight, seven, six...

-Carly
"Golden Leaf"
Tilden Park
Berkeley, California
October 31st 2008
Afternoon